Safety-cap for cotton-condensers



(N0 Model.)

G. P. MELGHIOR.

SAFETY GAP FOR COTTON GONDENSERS.

No. 459,298. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. MELOHIOR, 0F BELLEVUE, MISSISSIPPI.

SAFETY-CAP FOR COTTON-CONDENSERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,298, datedSeptember 8, 1891.

Application filed July 24,1890- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. MELCHIOR, of Bellevue, in the county ofBolivar and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Safety-Caps for Cotton-Condensers, of which thefollowingis a specification.

My invention is an improvement in cottoncondensers, and seeks to providea simple and novel construction whereby in case the condenser-belt slipsfrom the condenser-dru m an outlet cap or gate will be opened -toprovide an outlet for the cotton, to prevent the same from accumulatingand choking within the condenser-casing.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinationsof parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawing the figure is a perspective view of a portion of acotton-condenser provided with my improvements.

The condenser A, except in the particulars hereinafter described, may beof ordinary construction, having the inlet at B, through which thecotton from the gin enters, and also having the pulley C, the shaft ofwhich is geared with the condenser-drum and which pulley may for suchreason be referred to as the condenser-drum pulley. A beltDconnects thispulley C with a dri'veshaft E and serves, in the operation of themachine, to

drive the pulley O and the condenser-drum.

Now if at any time during the operation the belt D should slip from thepulley O the condenser-drum will cease to revolve, and the cotton,continuing to feed from the gin into condenser, will, in the absence ofmeans to prevent such accumulation and clogging, accumulate in thecondenser-casing and clog the condenser. To provide for the outlet ofthe cotton lint at such time, I provide an opening E and a cap or gateF, which is suitably supported so it may be opened, it being preferablysecured by strap-hinges G, as shown. The shaft H is journaled inbearings I, mounted on the condenser-casing. This shaft H is soconnected with the cap F that the turning of the shaft in one directionwill operate to open the cap or gate. In the construction shown theconnection is an arm the belt slips from its pulley.

Serial No. 359,838. (No model.)

to open the gate F when desired, I provide the arm L, connected at oneend with the shaft H and arranged to be supported at its opposite end bythe belt D, so that, in case the belt is slackened by slipping off thepulley Cor by breaking, the arm L will swing down and will turn theshaft H to open the cap or gate F. Preferably the arm L has at itsswinging end an idler or roller M, which bears upon the belt D, and thesaid arm is also preferably made in sections Z Z, connected by a screwor screws 1, so the arm can be adjusted longitudinally to obtain thedesired Weight to lift the cap or gate F when While the arm L might besecured rigidly'to the shaft II, it is preferred to connect it therewithin the manner shown and which I shall now describe. In the saidconstruction the arm L journals at L on the shaft, and the shaft has acrank-like portion or projection h, arranged for engagement by the arm Lwhen the latter falls. By this construction the arm as it lowers willoperate to turn the shaft H and open the cap or gate. At the same timethis construction permits the cap or gate to be opened by the operatorat will, such openingof the gate in nowise affecting the position of theswinging arm, as will be understood from the drawings.

It will be seen that I provide intermediate mechanism between the cap orgate and the condenser drive-belt, such mechanism including an operatingdevice supported on said belt and arranged, when such support isremoved, to operate by gravityto open the cap or gate.

It will be understood that while I prefer condenser-drum ceases itsrevolution, so that such cotton will not become clogged within thecondenser-casing. The pressure of the idler on the belt also operates tosecure a more certain action of the condenser by constant pressure onthe condenser-belt.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new is v 1. Thecombination of the condenser having an outlet-opening and a cap or gateby which to close said outlet-opening, the condenser drive-belt, andintermediate mechanism between the said cap or gate and the drive-belt,including an operating device supported on the drive-belt, allsubstantially as described, whereby the displacement of the saiddrive-belt and the consequent lowering of the operating device willeffect the opening of the cap or gate, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as described, of the condenser havingan outletopening and the cap or gate bywhich to close the saidoutlet-opening, the shaft, bearings for said shaft, connections betweenthe shaft and the cap or gate, and the swinging arm connected with andarranged to operate the shaft, said arm being arranged and adapted atits swinging end to be supported on the condenser drive-belt, allsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, substantially as described, of the condenser havingthe cap or gate, the shaft H, having a crank-1ike part or projection h,bearings for said shaft, connections between the said shaft and the capor gate, and the swinging arm journaled on the shaft H, arranged toengage the projection h and being arranged and adapted at its lower edgeto be supported on the condenser drivebelt, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the condenser havin g the cap or gate, the shaft,bearings for such shaft, connections between the shaft and the cap orgate, and the arm connected at one end with the shaft and having at itsswinging end an idler or roller arranged to bear upon the condenserdrive-belt, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the condenser having the cap or gate, the shaftand connections between the shaft and the cap or gate, and theoperating-arm connected with the shaft and made in sections andadjustable, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, substantially as described, of the condenser havingan outlet E and a cap or gate F, the loop K on said cap or gate, theshaft H, provided with an arm J, fitting in the loop K, and theoperating-arm connected with the shaft and arranged atits free end to besupported by the condenser drive-belt, substantially as set forth. I

7. The combination, with the condenser, its cap or gate, and thecondenser drive-belt, of the loop K on the cap or gate, the shaft H,having an arm J fitting in the loop K and also having a crank-likeportion or projection h, and the operating-arm j ournaled at one end onthe shaft and arranged to engage the portion h, the said arm being madein sections and adjustable and being provided at its free end with anidler or roller arranged to bear upofi the condenser drive-belt, allsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE P. MELOHIOR.

Witnesses:

BEN G. JOHNSON, W. A. SHELBY.

